Rainy Day for a Picnic

With nothing to do this morning, we packed a lunch and headed out to have a picnic at our favorite park.

I always try to be a good example to my children, so a lot of times that means I have to fake it.  The biggest things that I fake are, loving dogs and going gaga over babies.  I really want my children to know that animals and babies are special.  Every dog we see we ask it's owner if it's a boy or a girl, what's it's name, and can we pet him.  My girls love dogs, Luke, not so much.

We read a few books on the blanket.  (I love the striped legs behind us.)

Luke feeding the ants.

Our picnic got rained on.  Isabel took this picture of me going back for Hazel's shoes.

Sylvia in the rain.

Birthday Invitations for a "Friend Party"

Every other year I let my children have their birthday party with friends.  My reasoning for this is simple; it is so much work trying to make a fun party for my own child, let alone a bunch of other people's, every other year gives me a little break.  Needless to say, this year is a "friend party" and I had Sylvia design her own birthday invitations... "daddy with a beard, mama, and baby Sylvia."

In April, I had Isabel design her own birthday invitations too...

Mini Time Machine Museum

Isabel's very favorite place in the world is the Mini Time Machine Museum.  She was so inspired, she created a little room of her own with pictures on the walls and a rug.

We then went to a thrift store to see if we could find any fun miniature items to add to her shoe box home but had no luck. Instead, we found THIS...

Isabel has set up her plastic doll furniture inside, along with some blocks and has even created little paper tiles in the kitchen and bathroom.

She also made a tiny Time Magazine apparently featuring George Washington.

Car advertisement on the inside.

It even has a tear out subscription form. (Four dollars, not a bad deal!)

Isabel and I have had so much fun looking at miniature furniture on eBay and Etsy. I can see how easy it could be to get carried away and spend every last dime fixing up our new "home." Oh and her very cute shoe box home has become the guest house.